Prospect senior deputy general secretary Sue Ferns, responding to the National Audit Office report on delivering STEM skills for the economy, said:

“This report shows that the returns from work to address skills gap in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) are not good enough.

“The government must do more to close the gender gap in students doing STEM subjects and apprenticeships and to ensure that the untapped pool of talent is given the opportunity to be involved in the UK’s STEM future. 

“Diversifying the intake of STEM students and the STEM workforce would strengthen the UK’s global position and help to address the retention and skills mismatch identified in this report.

“It is shocking that the Government does not have a sound evidence base to inform its strategy. As the NAO report makes clear, it must take a more proactive role in identifying and tackling STEM skills priorities.”

Read the full report here: https://www.nao.org.uk/press-release/delivering-stem-science-technology-engineering-and-mathematics-skills-for-the-economy/